We happened to see a few signs in the last few days that Turkish authorities are strategizing to contain opposition in Turkish cybersphere. While Turkey’s minister in charge of internet regulation, Binali Yıldırım, complained about the criticism he was subject to in social media, Government’s hitman Bülent Arınç, who is particularly hostile against cybersphere was the usual suspect. In his statements, He claimed that social media is a messy place and “rotten ones” should eventually be eliminated. He then announced that there is an ongoing legal work concerning “internet media” and they hope to legalize it by January 2012. With the legal framework, internet based media will be under same legalities that regulate traditional media and internet media institutions will also benefit from government ad revenues… There has to be some regulation for internet media but in context of existing media freedom issues, the government plays both carrot and stick policy by regulating under the same press rules and by rewarding with government ads. This government strategy has been discussed in some Friendfeed posts: here, here and here. [all in Turkish]
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No doubt, Mr. Yıldırım and Mr. Arınç are democrats. No doubt!